Hand tape dispensers



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 3, 1954 ATTORNEYS Jan. 15, 1957 A. P. KRUEGER HAND TAPE DISPENSERS Filed May 5, 1954 ZSheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYfi United States hatnt 2,777,594 Patented Jan. 15, 195-7 HAND TAPE DISPENSERS Alfred P. Krueger, Southbury, Crm., assignor to Derby Sealers, Incorporated, Ansonia, (Bonn, a corporation of Connecticut Application May 3, H54, Serial No. 426,981

8 Claims. (Cl. 216-333) This invention relates to tape-dispensing mechanisms, and more particularly to a hand tape dispenser for pressure-sensitive tape designed to carry a roll of tape and to be held in the hand of the user so that the tape may be applied directly to a box, package or other article.

A great many different kinds of pressure-sensitive tape are manufactured at the present time. Some of these tapes are of such form that they have a very high tensile strength and have filaments of some character such, for example, as fiberglass, incorporated therein to produce this characteristic. These tapes are often employed to bind cartons, boxes, packages or bundles of articles, and the tape is applied tothe box or carton under considerable tension.

The; present invention relates to a hand tape dispense fordispensing tape of this character and in general consists of two parts. One of these parts comprises a supporting member for the roll of tape in the form of a cylinder or spool designed to carry the tape roll thereon. Theother part or body portion of the dispenser is a yoke member having spaced legs to embrace and be secured to the spool portion and carrying asevering member by which. the tape may be severed after it has been applied to the objectwith which it is to be used.

Also the body portion ofthe dispenser carries a finger or thumb grip which normally serves as a rest for the thumb of the user and which is pressed downwardly against the outer, surface of the supply roll of tape by the user in a tape-applying operation.

The yoke portion of the device is so secured to the spool portion of the device that it is permitted movement in one direction, that is,- so'that the thumb rest will move toward the SPOOL'blllI is normally prevented from movement in the other direction. Therefore, as the supply roll of'tape decreases-in size owing to use, normal pressure of the'thu'mb on the thumb rest member in the use of the attachment will cause this memberto follow the surface of the roll and always rest thereon, thus serving to put tension on the tape, resisting the unwinding thereof, and causing the tape to, be applied to an object under considerable tension.

While, as stated above, the yoke or body member is normally secured to the spool member to prevent relative movement of these two parts in one direction, this securing means consists of a ratchet and pawl arrangement was to permit substantially free movement in the opposite direction, and is releasable so as to permit separation of the two members when a new roll of tape is to be installed.

'One object of the present inventionis to provide a hand tape dispenser of novel form.

Still another object of therinvention is to provide a hand tape dispenser for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape, the dispenser being so' constructed that it may be held convenientlyin the .hand. and pressure conveniently applied upon the tape to maintain tension thereon.

Still another object: of the invention is the provision of a hand tape dispenser for pressure-sensitive tape con-. sisting of a cylindrical or spool member to serve as a support for a supply roll of tape and a yoke or body member having a pair of spaced legs to span the roll of tape and the yoke member, the legs of the yoke member being slidably associated with the spool member and normally permitted movement relatively thereto in one direction only. v

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a hand tape dispenser for pressure-sensitive tape of the character described above wherein the-body ,oryoke member is provided with a thumb rest normally in contact with the outer surface of the supply roll of tape and wherein the means for securing the yoke or body member to'the cylindrical spool member will normallyhold the thumb rest in contact with the surface f the supply roll of tape whether or not the thumb rest is gripped by the hand of the user.

To these and other ends the'invention consists in the novel features and combinations of partsto be hereinafter described and claimed.

in the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a hand tape dispenser embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line-3--3 ofiliig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view of the cylindrical spool member alone;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 55 of Fig- 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of theupper portion of the yoke or body member of a dispenser. of modified form; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the severing blade employed with the dispenser shown in Fig. 6.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is shown in the drawings a hand tape dispenser consisting essentially of two parts, namely, .a cylindrical or spool member designated generally by the character A for supporting a supply roll'of tape,wand a yoke or body member designated generally by the character B, designed to be slidably secured tothe spool member as will be hereinafter described. r

The spool member A comprises a substantiallycircular or hollow cylindrical body portion 10 having secured thereto interiorly thereof a sheet metal web member 11 of substantially U-shaped form in cross section, asshown in Fig. 5, this member being providedwith; side flanges 12 and 13. These flanges are provided with reversely turned end portions i4 and 15 and outwardly oifset lugs 16 and 17 which provide guideways toreceive the legs of the yoke member, as will be hereinafter described.

Slidably mounted in slots 18 in the member'll is a pawl member 19, this member being held in engaging or operative position, as shown in Figs. 1, 3Qand 4, bya leaf spring 2% secured to the member 11 at 21. .The pawl member 19 is provided with teeth-engagingedges 22 which lie within the guideways and engage the legs of the yoke member as will be hereinafter described,

The member B comprises an upper body portion 24 of substantially U-shaped form. The bight portion or rear wall 25- is turned outwardly at its lowerend, as shown at 25, to provide a thumb rest which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, normally rests upon the exterior surface of the supply roll of tape 27. Y

The sidewalls of the U-shaped member 24 are continued downwardly beyond the thumb rest 26 to form spaced leg members 28, which leg members are adapted to span the supply roll of tape and the roll-supporting member A and be received in the guideways formed by the members 14, i5 i6 and 17 previously described, these members sliding along the outward faces of the side flanges 12 and 13. As shown more particularly in "shaped that while the legs 28 will be permitted to slide :freely in one direction, i. e., a downward direction, as

shown in Fig. 1, they will be prevented from moving in the other direction until and unless the pawl is forceably Withdrawn from engagement with the ratchet teeth.

' Therefore, pressure of the thumb of the operator on the thumb contactmember 26 will normally cause this member to rest upon the surface of the roll and to follow inwardly toward the center of the roll as the latter decreases in size owing to use.

Moreover, it will prevent 'the member 28 being detached from the tape-supporting member regardlessof the position in which it may be held,

and the parts will be held together whether or not the member 26 is under pressure of the thumb of the operator.

At its upper end the member is turned transversely, as shown at 31, and a severing blade 32 is secured upon the outer surface of the part 31 by the screws 33. A

guard member 34 of U-shaped form is pivoted at 35 to the side wall member 24 of the body member B, and a spring 36 normally serves to hold this member in the position shown in Fig. 1 so that the forward or cutting edge of the severing blade 32 lies below the bight portion 37 of the guard and is protected thereby.

A tape-end supporting member 39 extends between the f legs 28 and is secured to one thereof, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2. This member is designed to lie below the free end 40 of the tape and prevent the free end thereof from adhering to the outer surface of the supply roll in order that this free end may project in a position to be grasped by the'cperator or to be applied to an object such as a carton or crate 41. A tape guide roller 42 is rotatably mounted between the walls of the member 24, this roller serving to contact the back or nen-tacky side of the tape and guide it frornthe roll 27. As shown in Fig. l, for example, when the tape is being applied to the carton or box 41, as shown in dotted lines at 43, the roller 42 serves as a tape guide and prevents the tape from inadvertently coming in contact with the knife guard 34 or the knife blade 32.

In the use of the device the operator grasps it in his hand, as shown in Fig. 3, with the fingers extending through the free space of the spool member 10 and his thumb resting upon the thumb rest 26. The free end 40 of the tape may be applied to an object andas it will cling thereto with great tenacity, the operator by drawing outwardly on the dispensing mechanism, will apply the tape to the box or other object under any desired-tension. Normal pressure of the thumb on the member 26 will cause this member to follow the outer surface of the roll of tape and lie in engagement therewith. Even if the operators thumb becomes disengaged fromthe member 26, the ratchet and pawl mechanism 19 and 29 will hold the member 26 against the surface of the tape and hold the two parts of the device in assembled relation.

. After a length of tape has been applied, as desired, it may be severed by moving the device with respect to the position of the tape, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3. In' this view the tape has moved the guard to an inoperative position where the edge of the severing blade 32 is exposed and the tape is engaged with the severing blade to be severed. A slight twist of the device when in this position will cause the tape to be severed.

At the upper portion of the body member 24 a' tapeapplying member is secured above the knife or severing member 32. This member comprises a fiat portion 45 secured below the screws 33 and a rounded convex porshown as a carton or box 41. V

As shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the device is adapted to be held in the hand with the fingers passed through the opening in the cylindrical body portion 10 and the thumb of the user resting upon the thumb rest 26. Natural pressure of the thumb upon this member will cause the thumb rest to engage the outer wrap of the supply roll of tape and cause it to follow the outer surface of the tape roll inwardly as its diameter decreases in use. the guideway formed by the lugs 14, 15, 16 and 17, the pawl and ratchet mechanism permitting sliding in this direction but preventing movement in the opposite to permit complete separation of the two portions A and B of the device.

7 in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, I have shown a somewhat modified form ofmy device, particularly with respect to the severing member. The severing member 32, shown in connection with'Figs. l to 5 of the drawings, is a fiat sheet metal blade sharpened at the end similar to a safety razor blade, for example. In the form of invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7, however, this blade' consists of a flat sheet metal plate 50 having corrugations 51 formed adjacent its cutting edge, these corrugations extending transversely of the cutting edge of the blade. As is noted from Fig. 6,'the blade is sharpened by being beveled upon its underside as at 52. As the hand of the operator will'not normally come in contact with the underside of the blade, the guard 34 is omitted in this form of device. The sharp edge'of the blade is, of course, protected to a considerable extent by the side walls of the member 24. In other respects the form of device shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is like that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5.

While I have shown and described some preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all of the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A hand holdable tape dispensing device comprising a cylindrical tape roll supporting member adapted to receive a roll of tape thereon, a yokemember having a body portion and spaced legs to straddle said supporting member, means on the latter member providing guideways to slidably receive said legs, and cooperating means on said supporting member and said legs to permit said legs to slide freely through said guidewaysin one direction but normally prevent movement of the legs in the other direction. i

2. A hand holdable tape dispensing device comprising a cylindrical tape roll supporting member adapted to receive a roll of tape thereon, a yoke member having a body portion and spaced legs to straddle said supporting member, means on the latter member providing guideways to slidably receive said legs, and cooperating means on said supporting member and said legs to permit said legs to slide freely through said guideways in one direction' but normally prevent movement of the legs in the other direction, said cooperating means comprising pawl and ratchet means and being releasable to permit movement of the legs in said other direction.

3. A hand holdable tape dispensing device comprising a cylindrical tape roll supporting member adapted to receive a roll of tape thereon, a yoke member having a body portionand spaced legs tostra'ddle said supporting member, means on the latter member providing guideways to slidably receive said legs, cooperating means on said supporting member and said legs to permit movement of said legs in a direction to move the body portion The leg portions 28 will slide through" of the yoke member toward the supporting member and normally prevent movement of the legs in a direction to separate said members and gripping means on said yoke member adapted to rest upon and follow the tape roll as the latter decreases in diameter and to apply tension on the tape.

4. A hand holdable tape dispensing device. comprising a cylindrical tape roll supporting member adapted to receive a roll of tape thereon, a yoke member having a body portion and spaced legs to straddle said supporting member, means on the latter member providing guideways to slidably receive said legs, a thumb rest on said body portion to engage the tape roll, cooperating means on said supporting member and said legs to permit movement of said legs in a direction to move the body portion of the yoke member toward the supporting member under pressure on said thumb rest and normally prevent movement of the legs in a direction to separate said members, and said means being releasable to permit said legs to be removed from said guideways.

5. A hand holdable tape dispensing device comprising a cylindrical tape roll supporting member adapted to receive a roll of tape thereon, a yoke member having a body portion and spaced legs to straddle said supporting member, means on the latter member providing guideways to slidably receive said legs, a thumb rest on the yoke member to contact the tape roll on the supporting member and limit movement of the body portion of the yoke member toward the supporting member, and a pawl and ratchet connection between the legs and the supporting member to prevent movement of the body portion of the yoke away from the supporting member.

6. A hand holdable tape dispensing device comprising a supporting member adapted to be received within a supply roll of tape and a body member to be disposed without said roll, cooperating means on said supporting member and body member to slidably connect said members, means to releasably connect said members together and hold them against relative movement in a direction to separate the same while permitting movement in the other direction and a thumb rest on said body member to rest against the surface of the tape on the supply roll and under pressure of the thumb thereon to follow such surface as the roll decreases in size and efiect relative sliding movement of said members.

7. A hand holdable tape dispensing device comprising a cylindrical tape roll supporting member adapted to receive a roll of tape thereon, a yoke member having a body portion and spaced legs to straddle said supporting member, means on the latter member providing guideways to slidably receive said legs, cooperating means on said supporting member and said legs to permit said legs to slide freely through said guideways in one direction but normally prevent movement of the legs in the other direction, said means comprising ratchet teeth on said legs and a spring-pressed pawl carried by the support member and urged into engagement with said teeth, and a tape-applying member secured to the upper portion of the body member.

8. A hand-holdable tape dispensing device as in claim 7 wherein a severing member is mounted upon the body member forwardly of said tape-applying member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 428,464 Crowder May 20, 1890 990,674 Staples Apr. 25, 1911 2,469,247 Smith May 3, 1949 2,527,588 Sorenson Oct. 31, 1950 2,574,175 Erhardt Nov. 6, 1951 2,685,416 Smith Aug. 3, 1954 2,728,477 Vogt Dec. 27, 1955 OTHER REFERENCES Modern Packaging, vol. 27, No. 7, March 1954, p. 253. 

